Shopping Helper Smartbar Engine

What is Shopping Helper Smartbar Engine?

Shopping Helper Smartbar is a potentially unwanted web browser extension that is ad-supported and will display various popup and banner ads as well as modify the user's web browser search and home page settings. This plugin will update Internet Explorer (as a BHO), Chrome (as an extension) and Firefox (as an add-in). In some cases, the program will monitor a user's behavior (which the user agreed to if they did not read the full EULA) and will inject rival advertisements over existing one or just inject new ones all together. This toolbar is typically bundled by third party download managers/installers or through questionable online ads.

Overview

The most used version is 10.215.63.15249, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. Upon installation, it defines an auto-start registry entry which allows the program run on each boot for the user which installed it. The main program executable is smartbar.exe. A vast majority of those who have this installed end up removing it just after a couple weeks. The software installer includes 238 files and is usually about 20.37 MB (21,356,032 bytes).

Behaviors exhibited

Startup File (User Run)

smartbar.exe is loaded in the current user (HKCU) registry as an auto-starting executable named 'Browser Infrastructure Helper' and executes as C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Smartbar\Application\Smartbar.exe startup.

About (from ReSoft Ltd.)

Our vision is to become the leading provider of simple, smart web solutions and complementary applications dedicated to improving browsing efficiency and simplicity using existing technologies and user interfaces.